There was a familiar feeling for the Anderson University volleyball team on Tuesday night for its match against Mars Hill.

This time, the Trojans came out on the wrong end of it.

For a third-straight match, Anderson (9-7, 6-3 South Atlantic Conference) dropped the first two sets, falling 25-23 and 25-18, and for a fifth time this season, the contest went to five sets, where they were edged 15-13 in the final frame by the Lions.

Anderson’s only lead in the opening two sets came early, 2-1 in the first, and in the second, they held only a .020 attack percentage. The Lions (2-10, 1-8), meanwhile, posted a .424 in the first and withstood any charge from AU in the second.

“When you have a young team, you almost have to expect you’re going to be on a roller coaster. We have been on one,” Anderson coach Gene Krieger said of a team with three underclassmen starting. "We won the last three that went five, but you can only be lucky for so long and it’s going to catch up with you, unless you’re good when you need to be to.

“They outplayed us and we looked at (their) record and thought it might not be such a hard game and that’s the wrong thing too.”

The Trojans took charge in the third with a 6-0 run to take an 18-11 lead – and pulled ahead by as much as seven – for a 25-19 decision.

Anderson controlled the fourth frame at the start, improving to a .311 attack percentage, but Mars Hill later evened things up 18-all. Two consecutive kills from Anderson freshman Rachel Mackey helped turn the tide back in the Trojans’ direction to pull away to another 25-19 edge.

In the final set, the Trojans held an 11-9 advantage and rallied later to even it up 13-all. On match point, however, Lions sophomore Maddie Spurgeon notched the kill with a block error from Mackey.

“Honestly, I’d say it was on us and not what they were doing. It was the mistakes we were making,” senior Allison Gaminde said.

“I think it took us a while to wake up,” said Krieger. “Because we didn’t think they would come out with that much enthusiasm. Then we had to match it and when we made it 2-2, I thought we would and it was all good again. And then pressure situations (came).”

Anderson University sophomore Emily Conard digs for the ball at the Anderson University volleyball game against Mars Hill on Tuesday, October 4, 2016 in Anderson. (Photo: Katie McLean/ Independent Mail)

Posted!

A link has been posted to your Facebook feed.

Anderson University junior Serena Jackson successfully blocks the ball at the Anderson University volleyball game against Mars Hill on Tuesday, October 4, 2016 in Anderson. Katie McLean/ Independent Mail

Anderson University sophomore Megan Embry cheers with her teammates after pushing the game into a fifth set at the Anderson University volleyball game against Mars Hill on Tuesday, October 4, 2016 in Anderson. Katie McLean/ Independent Mail

The AU volleyball team cheers on their teammates as they score a point, making the score 12 to 13 in the fifth set at the Anderson University volleyball game against Mars Hill on Tuesday, October 4, 2016 in Anderson. Katie McLean/ Independent Mail

Anderson University sophomore Megan Embry cheers with her teammates before the start of the Anderson University volleyball game against Mars Hill on Tuesday, October 4, 2016 in Anderson. Katie McLean/ Independent Mail

Anderson University junior Serena Jackson blocks the ball after it had been spiked by Mars Hill senior Mary Kate Griffin at the Anderson University volleyball game against Mars Hill on Tuesday, October 4, 2016 in Anderson. Katie McLean/ Independent Mail

Anderson University sophomore Jayln Knight bumps the ball after it was served at the Anderson University volleyball game against Mars Hill on Tuesday, October 4, 2016 in Anderson. Katie McLean/ Independent Mail